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EIC Transition - PreBiomicsPMT
Ongoing project
In the context of the PreBiomicsPMT project we will enable treatment recommendations for each patient based on the bacterial composition of their plaque microbiome.
Every year, around 20 million dental implant procedures are performed worldwide. The market for dental implants was worth €3.6 billion in 2020 and is growing at a rate of 11% each year.
Unfortunately, there is a risk of dental implant-related diseases due to microorganisms and biofilm formation. These diseases can harm both oral and overall health. More than 50% of patients with dental implants develop a condition called mucositis, which is an inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the implant. If left untreated, mucositis can progress to peri-implantitis, a severe infection that affects both the soft and hard tissues, potentially leading to implant failure. Currently, there are no reliable tools to assess the severity of these diseases or predict their progression. To date, dentists can only provide general treatments without knowing the specific composition of the plaque microbiome triggering and sustaining the disease.
At PreBiomics, we have developed a precision-medicine test that analyzes the microbial composition of the plaque biofilm collected around dental implants. Over the course of 10 years of research, we have discovered that the presence of specific bacteria is crucial in predicting the severity and progression of infections. Our test, called PreBiomicsPMT, utilizes metagenomics and an AI algorithm to analyze the bacterial composition of the plaque microbiome. This allows us to monitor and diagnose the disease and provide personalized treatment recommendations for each patient based on their specific bacterial profile.
Building upon the successful results of our previous ERC Proof of Concept projects, this EIC-Transition project aims to automate the testing process using robotics. This will help reduce costs and speed up the delivery of results. We will also create a comprehensive database that will be used to develop an antibiotic resistance panel and enhance our decision support system (DSS) for dentists. Additionally, we will conduct a validation study to demonstrate the effectiveness of our DSS in predicting disease and treatment outcomes.
In parallel with the technical advancements, we will develop an intellectual property rights (IPR) management plan to protect our research findings. We will extensively study the dental implants market and understand the needs and expectations of our customers and investors. This knowledge will contribute to the development of a robust business plan for effectively marketing and exploiting our product.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement n° 101113004.